The Roots of Stability: Roots or Shoots? Being well-rooted

In the life of trees, one key to survival is having more roots than shoots.

In his book Oak: The Frame of Civilization, author William Bryant Logan says, "If a tree puts on a lot of top growth and few roots, it is liable to be weak-wooded and short lived ...
If a tree puts down a great deal of roots and adds shoots more slowly, however, it is liable to be long-lived and more resistant to stress and strain."

People and organizations can be a lot like trees. The rise to prominence (in a relationship, in an occupation, in life, etc) is exhilarating, but anything that puts "shoots" faster than it puts down "roots" is fragile and in danger of breaking, falling, or dying.

Jesus used a similar analogy in His 'parable of the sower'. Jesus said people who hear the Word and receive it joyfully are like seed sown on stony places; they spring up quickly but endure only a short time because they have no roots (Matthew 13:6, 20-21)
[Matthew 13:6] - "Because they had no root they withered away!"

Roots aren't at all glamorous, but they are the source of our strength (in adversity, in relationships, and in life, with God).
If our roots go deep in the knowledge of God (Jer. 9:24)** and our lives are rooted and built up in Him/His love (Col. 2:7), .... we'll be strong ... resistant to blight, and more likely to survive the storms of adversity.
For blight is "something that impairs growth, withers hopes and ambition, and impedes any type of progress or prosperity in living".
Being resistant from blight cannot come from our own resources or our own strength; For when our strength, our hope, and our resources are found in something beyond us ... God's love ... Jesus Christ ... it is then that we can face the storms of adversity with assurance and faith that the Love of God is with us, helping us; Strong roots in Jesus Christ eliminate all dangers of breaking, falling, or dying.

What are your roots? Are they strong enough for the adversities you will face throughout your life? HOW DEEP ARE YOUR ROOTS?

My prayer today: That I (we) will use the resources of God to put down roots that will make me (us) strong, rather than branches that will make me (us) attractive in the eyes of others.

Trees are supported and held up by the roots we do not see underground ... likewise ... no one will ever see your heart, your situation, and your faith ... the way God does :). Jesus is our root system.
The Roots of Stability come from being grounded in God's Word and in Prayer; In Jesus Christ (God's love).

Do you "know" Jesus Christ? Are you "rooted in Him? Do you want to be?

Jesus said -- [John 15:5-6]
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. No branch can survive by itself ... it must remain in the vine"
Are you connected to the vine?

(integrated from Daily Bread - September 5, 2008 --Roots or Shoots? -- and also what God spoke to my own heart) **(also Psalm 25:10)
(suggested scripture for "strong roots" verses - John 15:1,4,5-10; Colossians 2:7; Ephesians 3:17-19; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Philippians 4:11-13)